Intayazz8/8/2014 1:23 PMIn a tiny little bar above the forums, you should have the line of 'Forums: Search * Change Handle * Your Active Topics * Subscriptions * New Activity'

Karathinel7/30/2014 3:25 AMhrm.... Struggling to figure out how to change the character associated with the account, since only a couple of people ever met Kara. But this is Red / Spellfury.

Karathinel7/30/2014 3:21 AM*wave* I realize I kind of vanished a year ago and it's likely no one really remembers any more, but I actually have a bit of time for gaming again and figured I would see what people are up to?

Smudge paced the length of her apartment, the emotions of the past evening warring within her. She'd left the Phoenix an hour before feeling worn out and ready for sleep. It seemed though, that the walk home and the night air had reawakened her and set her mind going again.

Intayazz was back. He was safe, as well as anyone can be in Stormreach. Another mysterious halfling, Eleniya, had stepped in and brought him home. She was overjoyed to have him back, grateful beyond words that he was still alive, yet...

She turned around in her pacing and started back the other direction with a little growl of frustration. She was angry. Angry at those who took Intayazz for what they did to him. It had been so bad, Eleniya waited to have him healed before finding her. She shuddered and swallowed hard the lump in her throat that formed as she thought of them breaking her friend, of how long it took.

She was angry too, with the halfling that had been under the employ of those who took Intayazz. She closed her eyes, clenching her jaw as she thought of him. She shouldn't be. If it weren't for him, their search would have been harder. They would have been hampered even more by attempts on their lives as they continued their search. And who knows, if he hadn't paid off Eleniya, given her the contract to retrieve Intay, the attempt Smudge had led that turned into chaos might well have gotten him killed. But she couldn't help it. A whole month of fear for her friend, anger at the corruption around her, of planning and investigating... And then risking her life and that of her friends to try to bring Intayazz back... Only to find that she'd been led around by the nose. That she'd been manipulated, sent in as a distraction, so that Eleniya could bring him back.

She sighed deeply, this was getting her nowhere. She wasn't going to sleep until she got this off her mind. She grabbed her blades and slipped out the door, resetting her traps behind her.

The harbor was quiet as she stalked through it. The few that did cross her path as she made her way to the airship tower, quickly moved out of her way when they saw the expression on her face.

The monk had spoken of meditation to clear the mind. Smudge had never been good at that. Give her a quiet place and that was when the thoughts flowed. Moving meditations however, keeping her body busy and her mind focused so it had no time to think about everything else, those worked.

She threw herself into practice, a fury of whirling blades and precise strikes hitting the training dummy in quick succession. It started simply as a honing of the moves she knew so well, but as she went, it progressed into a fury as she released all the anger, frustration, and rage pent up over the previous month.

An hour later, panting, drenched in sweat, Smudge sank to the floor beside the splintered remains of the dummy. Her rage was spent. She crossed her arms over her knees and rested her forehead on them. With her anger no longer there to push them back, the rest of her emotions welled up. Joy, frustration, relief, pain, all sought their release. She wept.

Smudge slides backwards, startled, and looks up. She frowns when she recognizes the man before her, and dashes the tears from her eyes, not taking the handkerchief. "It has been a long month."

The halfling slides the refused handkerchief, back into a pocket. He steps back, leaning against the railing. "I'm glad he's safe. Though things got quite messy there. I wasn't expecting you to blow up the boat."

She sighs, "Things sort of got out of my control. I suppose I shouldn't have expected everyone to move with the same care. But.." Her brow furrows, expressing her confusion. "We didn't blow up the boat. I thought your people did."

He shakes his head, "No, we were hoping to get it quite, intact. That way we could find where all there locations were, among the islands." He shrugs, "I suppose we will just have to use other means."

She stands, brushing herself off, and joins him at the railing, staring out over the edge of the ship. She's to tired, too spent, to care about being angry at him anymore. "I suppose they didn't want that, then. Who are you, anyway? How'd you get into all this?"

He chuckles slightly, "I do a little of this, and that. Saving the world, thwarting evil and all that. There's six of us." He nods over to the bow, where a small figure sits. "Each with their own skills. The paladin felt something odd, and she went and investigated. When she found the group, she moved us into positions, to learn more, then take down the group." He turns, joining Smudge in looking over the railing.

Smudge lets out a low chuckle and shakes her head, the pieces coming together. "Ahh. I see. Was it one of you who placed the bodies then, and drew Intayazz into it? Were you just playing the fool when you came to ask me questions?"

"Heh, no it was not one of us who placed the bodies, actually. But I was playing the fool, because we had the woman under protection, already." He falls silent for a moment, "There will end up being more, throughout the islands, but let's hope it they are not making anymore."

She nods slowly. "Did you figure out exactly what they were doing, and is it over then?"

"Trying to bring the Shadow into the world. And no, not quite over. There are still dozens among the islands. We are hoping that with their leadership gone, however, that they won't be taking anymore people. Perhaps a deadly power struggle as well," he laughs softly.

Her answering chuckle is vicious. "One can hope." She pauses a long moment, looking out over the city, then turns to face him, her arms crossed over her chest.

The halfling turns to face Smudge, then seems to jump, noticing the piece of jewelry above her crossed arms. "You? Heh, well, I am glad that was found," He points to the golden dove brooch. "Though, the boy seems a bit young for you."

Smudge looks confused, and looks down at the brooch. Realization dawns on her face and she laughs a little, shaking her head. "I'm what? No, no, Blinten gave it to me in thanks for all of this. He said there were others, I didn't know this was the one he was supposed to save." She blushes. "Trust me. I don't think he even realizes girls are interesting yet. And when he does, he can have it back to give to whoever it is convinces him of that." She laughs again and eyes him with a little smirk. "Either you're incredible at digging up information, my friend, or you've a more personal reason for knowing this."

A soft short laugh, escapes the halfling. "Yes, indeed." He steps away, walking slowly to the figure sitting on the bow, "Unless you have no more questions, I should be returning to our search."

Smudge chuckles, her suspicion all but confirmed, and nods. "You truly have my thanks for all you did to help get Intayazz back to us. Should you need help in the rest of this, or whatever else comes up, just ask... One thing though..." She turns serious. "I don't really care for being used as an unwitting distraction."

"I told ye not to go, but you didn't listen. Yes I used you as a distraction, but can you blame me. Would your friend have lived, had the girl not saved him?" He stands next to the, now standing, elven woman.

She sighs and shakes her head. "Maybe... After all hell broke loose, probably not. I don't blame you.. It worked.. Just, I still would have played the part. I just don't like being a dupe."

"Well, I will remember that, though I doubt there will be a next time. I am sorry, that you had to get involved. Truly I am. I did not wish for you, or your friends, to be in any sort of danger"

She nods, accepting the apology. "Good luck to you and yours then. I hope you find the rest of them quickly."

"Perhaps. If your wife and Blinten will let you out a moment." She grins. "Two years is a long time."

He laughs, "Yes, indeed it is. Though, two years is the last I was able to message her." He pauses thoughtful. "This is the first time I have seen the boy, since he could walk." He reaches into his pocket, and tosses a heavy pouch towards Smudge. "Take care of him, will ye?" And in a flash, the elf and halfling are gone.

Monday Night Chat(9pm est)Come to the forums Javachat!
Role-play out-of-game with
fellow guildmates and friends.
Bake a cake. Kill a diredust
bunny. Take a break from the
video game dungeoneering
and let your imagination
stretch it legs.

Thelanis Thursday
(9:30pm est)Come flex your Role-playing
muscles and interact with
other role-players in this
weekly event. RP in taverns
and quests.